In one episode of The Great Pottery Throwdown, a soothing British reality show that features amateur ceramicists, someone jokes about spending a night on the tiles. In this case, the phrase has nothing to do with crafting tiles from clay. A night on the tiles is actually a late, lively night out involving pubs, parties, dancing, and maybe a regrettable decision or two. The tiles in this metaphor are on rooftops, not bathroom floors, suggesting the idea of yowling cats roaming about searching for romantic adventures. This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of ““A Night on the Tiles” Means a Lively Late Night Out, Not a Ceramics Project”
Grant, I’ve had a wonderful time lately learning about pottery from a British TV show called The Great Pottery Throwdown.
It’s sort of like the British baking show in that, there are all these really talented people who are competing.
But you learn so much about pottery and you really come to appreciate it.
But of course, I’m also learning a lot of great British idioms that I didn’t know before.
So I’m getting a real kick out of this reality show.
And one of the expressions that I recently learned came up during an episode where they were trying to make tiles, you know, clay tiles, and somebody made a joke about, Well, I guess you’re going to have a night on the tiles.
And I thought, What in the world are they talking about?
Have you ever heard this?
A night on the tiles?
What is this?
A junk in the bar bathroom or a junk in the club bathroom?
That’s what I thought.
But I looked it up, and apparently a night on the tiles is a late, lively night out, you know, involving pubs and parties and dancing and, you maybe a regrettable decision or two.
But the tiles in question here are not tiles on the bathroom floor.
It’s rooftop tiles.
It’s the image of cats roaming and yowling.
Oh, I see.
Know, having romantic adventures.
Catting about.
Yes, catting about.
Having a night on the tiles.
Well, let me just warn you that if it’s like the Great British Baking Show, skip the Mexican themed episodes.
Yes, yes.
Skip that one.
And actually, I would start with season three because I just like people a lot better.
Well, I will tune in and learn a lot about British idioms and pottery language.
Whatever you’re watching, whatever you’re reading, it’s giving you new language.
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